Typographic Maps: Sleek, Stylish & Sentimental

I think I might be developing a map obsession. Maps are such an elegant way to display affection for your hometown, the city where you fell in love, or an unforgettable trip. (Not to mention, maps are just flat out cool.) Next to vintage, typographic maps are my absolute favorite.

We have this awesome typographic map of San Francisco in our office-turned-mostly-playroom and I LOVE it. Best $22 we ever spent. Every time I look at it, I feel like hugging it. I feel like saying, "Thank you, Sunset. Thank you, Presidio. Thank you, thank you, Mission!" (Sung to the tune of Alanis Morrisette's 1989 pop hit "Thank U," of course.) It would be a bit weird to find myself hugging and singing to a map, but it's certainly not the oddest thing I've ever done.

These unique word weavings seem to convey so much through an exquisite display of the power of type. And the black and white typographic world map...are you kidding me? What child would not want to learn all of the countries with one hundred percent accuracy while studying that sublime expression of our planet? My current dilemma is which map to get next: London, United States, or Zurich? (I have no special affection for Zurich, but just looking at that map is like taking a trip to a faraway land of artful alphabetic awesomeness.) The black background and white type map of the United States from Etsy is also one of my favorites -- made using a Wacom tablet. Wedding gifts, anyone?